Laem Chabang to Le Havre shipping route.

Ships leaving Laem Chabang for Le Havre head north west and cover a sea distance of 8,980 nautical miles (16,630 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 9,665 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Gibraltar, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 31.2 days at 12 knots, 26.7 days at 14 knots and 20.8 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 33 to 54 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 46 sailings by 4 carriers (CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE and OOCL).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 12,423 nautical miles, 3,444 more, and adds about 10.3 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

2,159 nm of the route, 24% of it, lies inside North Sea ECA and Mediterranean Sea ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Recent freight rates for THLCH to FRLEH start at $2,207 for a 20GP and $3,177 for a 40GP ($2,619 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Le Havre (FRLEH) carriers give about 7 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Laem Chabang in this directory, Le Havre is the 45th shortest. Closer destinations include Los Angeles (7,827 nm), Algeciras (7,794 nm) and Valencia (7,537 nm).